Ben Jacobson has discovered that a lot of friends are rooting for him in his fight against brain cancer, including people he doesn't even know.

The "GoFundMe" campaign to help Jacobson and his family with their medical expenses has reached $7,620 toward the initial goal of $10,000.

The basketball program at NIACC, one of Kirkwood's rivals in the ICCAC conference, has raised an additional $2,000 for Jacobson through their own clinics.

And now Kirkwood Community College, where Jacobson has worked as an assistant men's basketball coach the past five years, will be holding a special fundraiser for Jacobson Wednesday night when the Eagles host NIACC in a doubleheader that begins at 5:30 p.m. with the women's game at Johnson Hall.

Kirkwood is calling it "Jake's Game," and spectators are asked to wear gray, the color for brain cancer awareness.

Jacobson, 34, was diagnosed in October with Level 2 brain cancer. There is an inoperable 2 1/2-inch tumor in the frontal lobe of his brain, located in a delicate spot that cannot be removed by surgery.

Jacobson is undergoing treatments and has been back on the job at Kirkwood since mid-November, in good spirits and determined to fight back.

"I've always been a fighter and I'm willing to fight this tumor. And I'm going to beat this thing," he vowed. "There's no doubt in my mind that I'm going to.

"This cancer will get my best fight, no matter what."

Donations for the Jacobson family will be accepted at Johnson Hall. In addition, special T-shirts can be purchased for $15 to help with the fundraising efforts. There will be special events between games of the doubleheader.